How to Prepare for Your Exams

Exams are almost always stressful, and while you can never truly be free from the pressure, proper preparation definitely helps. To quote Sun Tzu, “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” So here are a few tips to help you be properly prepared for your exams.

1. Maximise Classroom Time

More often than not, the preparation for battles begin before you know they do. For exams, the battle preparations start the moment you step into your first class. Revision for exams should remain what it’s supposed to be – the reviewing of concepts you already know. Don’t ever leave the actual learning to the last minute. Pay attention to class, take down notes, clarify any doubts with your educator, just make sure to fully utilise your time in the classroom.

2. Have a Proper Schedule

Do up a timetable for you revision. Note down the dates and times for your exams, then organize your study time accordingly. Instead of being lost on what to study, a timetable will allow you to have a greater focus on the task at hand.

3. Organise Your Working Space.

Clear your desk to clear your mind. Make sure you have enough space for all the relevant study material. Get rid of all distractions and make sure you’re comfortable enough to be able to focus. Whether it’s playing music or working in complete silence, just make sure your environment is ideal for studying.

4. Make Use of Friends and Family

The best way to test your understanding of a topic is by explaining it to others. Sometimes we may understand concepts in our head, but they come up all jumbled up the moment we’re tested on it. By verbalising your thoughts to people you know, you’ll be able to give yourself a test run before the actual assessment. You’ll also find that by doing so, you’ll have to make things as clear and concise as possible for them to understand. This will help you organise your thoughts. The people you talk to can even help you improve by pointing out areas where you could work on.

5. Rest Up

We’ve all heard stories of people overdosing on caffeine in order to keep themselves awake for late night studying sessions. Don’t do this. It’s bad for your health, and you don’t want to enter the exam hall addled and tired. You’ll want to approach you exam with clarity, or you might end up making careless mistakes.

6. Plan for Your Actual Exam Day

After all the preparation, the most important thing you have to do is actually attend the exam. You have to be punctual, so set your alarm and make sure you know how to get to the venue of the exam. If necessary, physically go down to the location of your exam beforehand to scout the place. Also make sure to pack all the necessary things, such as stationary and identification. Lastly, do check on your exam schedule – nothing is worse than realising that you’ve got the exam timings wrong.